Endocrinal assessment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients as compared to control groups

Background: Hormones also take part in respiratory control via peripheral chemo receptors or by their local effects on the lungs and the airways. In chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients, respiratory muscles are required to work efficiently than normal individuals to establish a sufficient respiration. Changes in serum hormone levels of COPD patients adversely affect functioning of respiratory muscles. Objective of the study was to assess endocrinal profile in COPD patient with comparable control groups.Methods: A Hospital based Case control study conducted at Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Late B.R.K.M Government Medical College, Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, India during July 2016 to January 2017. Study included 75 diagnosed cases of COPD in which moderate, severe, very severe COPD was 25 in each of this group (per GOLD ‘s guideline) and compared to age matched 25 healthy control.Results: In this study serum growth hormone and serum testosterone showed significant difference between COPD cases and control group and fair significant difference in serum FSH between COPD cases and control groups. There was no significant correlation between serum growth hormone, serum testosterone and serum FSH with COPD grading. There was no statistically difference observed in serum LH (p=0.425) level between COPD cases and control groups. Present study showed there was statistically difference in FT3, FT4 and TSH level between COPD cases and control groups. There was significant negative correlation between FT4 levels between COPD grading. But no correlation seen between COPD grading and control with respect to serum FT3 and TSH level.Conclusions: Endocrinal assessment in present study showed significant decrease in serum growth hormone and serum testosterone in COPD patients, which are anabolic hormones. Early detection and correction of such an anabolic hormonal abnormality may prevent skeletal and diaphragmatic muscle weakness, and improve respiratory drive of COPD patients

Elevated Proteasome Capacity Extends Replicative Lifespan in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Aging is characterized by the accumulation of damaged cellular macromolecules caused by declining repair and elimination pathways. An integral component employed by cells to counter toxic protein aggregates is the conserved ubiquitin/proteasome system (UPS). Previous studies have described an age-dependent decline of proteasomal function and increased longevity correlates with sustained proteasome capacity in centenarians and in naked mole rats, a long-lived rodent. Proof for a direct impact of enhanced proteasome function on longevity, however, is still lacking. To determine the importance of proteasome function in yeast aging, we established a method to modulate UPS capacity by manipulating levels of the UPS–related transcription factor Rpn4. While cells lacking RPN4 exhibit a decreased non-adaptable proteasome pool, loss of UBR2, an ubiquitin ligase that regulates Rpn4 turnover, results in elevated Rpn4 levels, which upregulates UPS components. Increased UPS capacity significantly enhances replicative lifespan (RLS) and resistance to proteotoxic stress, while reduced UPS capacity has opposing consequences. Despite tight transcriptional co-regulation of the UPS and oxidative detoxification systems, the impact of proteasome capacity on lifespan is independent of the latter, since elimination of Yap1, a key regulator of the oxidative stress response, does not affect lifespan extension of cells with higher proteasome capacity. Moreover, since elevated proteasome capacity results in improved clearance of toxic huntingtin fragments in a yeast model for neurodegenerative diseases, we speculate that the observed lifespan extension originates from prolonged elimination of damaged proteins in old mother cells. Epistasis analyses indicate that proteasome-mediated modulation of lifespan is at least partially distinct from dietary restriction, Tor1, and Sir2. These findings demonstrate that UPS capacity determines yeast RLS by a mechanism that is distinct from known longevity pathways and raise the possibility that interventions to promote enhanced proteasome function will have beneficial effects on longevity and age-related disease in humans

Geomorphic processes in the vicinity of the Venkatapur River mouth, central west coast of India: implications for estuarine sedimentation

We discuss geomorphic processes in the vicinity of river mouths of the central west coast of India using the Venkatapur River as a representative. Multidate satellite image analyses, wave-refraction patterns, time-series beach section studies, and sediment characteristics were used to understand the geomorphic processes operating in the region. Multidate image analyses indicated a significant readjustment of mouth configuration as well as shoal features; spit growth northward across the Venkatapur River and other rivers of the region, e.g., the Gangavali, the Sharavati; a shift of the river mouth northward; narrowing of the river mouths; and development of submerged bars across the river mouths, etc. The beaches to the north of the Venkatapur River mouth showed erosion (retreated landward), whereas the beaches on the southern side of the river mouth accreted (grew seaward/alongshore). In general, the beaches showed accretion during postmonsoon and premonsoon intervals, and erosion during monsoon. Sediments on the beach are medium to very fine grained (1.38–3.45 Ø) and moderately to poorly sorted (σ  =  0.3–0.81), suggesting low-energy conditions during deposition. During the premonsoon period, resuspension of sediments occurs, and these sediments move landward and into the estuary, especially during high tide. Wave-refraction pattern shows wave divergence in the mouth of the river and wave convergence away from the river on either side during the premonsoon (March to May) period, leading to a wave shadow area in front of the river mouth. These processes lead to sedimentation in the estuary and dynamic changes in the vicinity of the river mouth

Low-Scale Foreshore Morphodynamic Processes in the Vicinity of a Tropical Estuary at Honnavar, Central West Coast of India

Low-scale foreshore morphodynamic processes in the vicinity of the Sharavati estuary at Honnavar, central west coast of India, are discussed in this paper based on the wave refraction analyses, sediment characteristics, and foreshore morphological changes. In general, the foreshore is composed of medium- to fine-grained (1.12–2.68), well-sorted to poorly sorted sands (0.18–0.86σ). Beaches experience two periods of accretion, one during September to December (postmonsoon) and another during February to April, followed by two periods of erosion, one during second half of May to early September (monsoon) and another a minor phase of erosion from December to February. The study indicated two distinct trends of geomorphic process on either side of the river mouth. Nearshore coastal process and wind largely control shoreface modification of the beaches to the south of the river mouth, whereas islands in this region modify geomorphic processes of the beach to the north of the river mouth. Northerly drift prevailing during the postmonsoon season favors spit growth across the river mouth from south to north, whereas the southerly drift during December to February is responsible for erosion of the portion of the beach to the north of the river mouth. The growth of a spit is at the expense of the beach to the north of the river mouth. However, during the westerly wave approach (March–April), littoral cells developed in the vicinity of river mouth provided stability to the beach

Spit dynamics along the Central West Coast of India: implications for coastal zone management

Spit growth is observed across many rivers of the central west coast of India. Studies on the seasonal dynamics of the spits of the central west coast of India on the basis of the multidate satellite images LISS III, landsat™ data, panchromatic camera (PAN) data etc. in a geographic information system (GIS) environment using ERDAS imagine 9.0 version followed by field-check and wave data analysis have been discussed in this paper. All types of spits such as paired spits, winglike spits, single spits, etc. are observed along the coast of Karnataka, central west coast of India. Spit growth is responsible not only for shifting of the river mouths, but also for rapid changes in estuarine morphology and in turn on the sedimentation process. It is observed that river mouths with a spit across them have a submerged bar in front of them, whereas rivers devoid of spits are also devoid of submerged bars in front of them. This spatial association of spit and submerged bar is believed to have a genetic relationship. Along the coast many perpendicular faults and uplifts have been observed. Rate of spit growth, along with their direction and inland drainage pattern, suggest a role of sea-level changes and tectonic control in addition to alongshore currents. Rapid spit growth is observed near the inferred tectonic axis. Seasonal dynamics and modification in the spit configuration are related to alongshore drift as well as the wave refraction around the mouth of the rivers

Low-Scale foreshore morphodynamic processes in the vicinity of a tropical estuary at Honnavar, Central West Coast of India

Low-scale foreshore morphodynamic processes in the vicinity of the Sharavati estuary at Honnavar, central west coast of India, are discussed in this paper based on the wave refraction analyses, sediment characteristics, and foreshore morphological changes. In general, the foreshore is composed of medium- to fine-grained (1.12–2.68ϕ), well-sorted to poorly sorted sands (0.18–0.86σ). Beaches experience two periods of accretion, one during September to December (postmonsoon) and another during February to April, followed by two periods of erosion, one during second half of May to early September (monsoon) and another a minor phase of erosion from December to February. The study indicated two distinct trends of geomorphic process on either side of the river mouth. Nearshore coastal process and wind largely control shoreface modification of the beaches to the south of the river mouth, whereas islands in this region modify geomorphic processes of the beach to the north of the river mouth. Northerly drift prevailing during the postmonsoon season favors spit growth across the river mouth from south to north, whereas the southerly drift during December to February is responsible for erosion of the portion of the beach to the north of the river mouth. The growth of a spit is at the expense of the beach to the north of the river mouth. However, during the westerly wave approach (March–April), littoral cells developed in the vicinity of river mouth provided stability to the beach

Churg-Strauss syndrome: A rare cause of pleural effusion

Churg-Strauss syndrome (CSS) is a rare, small-vessel vasculitis associated with a prominent allergic component, asthma, and blood or tissue eosinophilia. Granulomas, eosinophils, and palisading histiocytes in extravascular tissues are hallmarks of this disorder. The presence of asthma or allergy as well as more than 10% of eosinophils in blood is 95% sensitive and 99% specific, respectively, in distinguishing CSS among a subgroup of patients with well-documented systemic vasculitis. We present a case of pleural effusion which was finally diagnosed as CSS. Considering its rarity, this case is reported

Influence of the macrotidal environment on the source to sink pathways of suspended flux in the Gulf of Kachchh, India: evidence from the ocean colour monitor (IRS‐P4)

A series of tide‐synchronous satellite images, obtained from the Ocean Colour Monitor (OCM) onboard the Indian Remote Sensing Satellite (IRS‐P4), in situ measurements and hydrodynamic model simulations were used to describe dispersal pathways and sources of total suspended matter (TSM) in the Gulf of Kachchh, a macrotidal system with insignificant freshwater inputs. Strong alongshore currents are prevalent at the mouth that move in (out) clockwise during flood (ebb) and undergo cyclic, dynamic changes with the tidal phases. The Gulf, unlike other regions of the Indian coastline, has dynamic turbidity that is zonal (very high in the outer Gulf and in the creeks of the Gulf), particularly during flooding, and reduced in the central region throughout the entire tidal cycle. From this dynamic turbidity with regard to the prevalent currents, it is deduced that inland amplifying flood currents draw in TSM‐rich offshore waters into the Gulf, and are the major source of turbidity in the outer regions of the Gulf. In the inner Gulf, because of these high‐magnitude currents, scouring of the creek bed leads to resuspension to create higher turbidity. Most of the scoured flux sinks off the mouths of these creeks because of the fanning out of ebbing flows from the narrow creeks into the wider Gulf. The areas under specific influence of different sources of turbidity are delineated schematically